A new law will regulate a popular “herbal supplement” in South Carolina. It’s called the “South Carolina Kratom Consumer Protection Act,” and Gov. Henry McMaster signed it into law May 12 of this year. The law states that it is illegal for a kratom retailer to sell any kratom product to an individual under 21 years old, and every kratom product must have a clear label that describes how to use it properly. “We wanted to make sure that no one’s 21 or under was going to be able to purchase it. It was going to have to be put behind the counter,” Sen. Russell Ott said. “And then we wanted to make it meaningful legislation and say that, you know, if someone breaks the rules, there’s going to be a price to pay.”Any retailer in violation of this law will face a $1,000 fine for the first offense and $2,000 for a second or subsequent offense. “We’re going to give time for businesses to make sure that they learn about it and make sure that they start following the rules before it goes into effect, but in a couple of months, I think that it will be a safer place in South Carolina, particularly for our kids,” Ott said. He also said legislators are working with the Retail Association and state agencies to ensure businesses are aware of the new law. The law will go into effect 60 days from when the governor signed the bill. According to Dr. David Schaffer, who is the director of Medical Toxicology for Prisma Health in the Upstate, the supplement became popular about 15 years ago as a way to treat opioid addiction. Now, it is widely used for its psychoactive properties. Schaffer said the issue is that when you purchase it, you don’t know what you’re getting. “They may list a dose on there, a number of milligrams suggested use, and what we know from studies on supplements going back decades is that they may contain 0% of what they say, they may contain 3000% of what they say, and unfortunately, they may be contaminated with other substances,” Schaffer said. He also said there could be a day when kratom is used therapeutically and as a prescribed pharmaceutical, but added that clinical trials are ongoing. The supplement is not completely safe yet.
A new law will regulate a popular “herbal supplement” in South Carolina.
It’s called the “South Carolina Kratom Consumer Protection Act,” and Gov. Henry McMaster signed it into law May 12 of this year.
The law states that it is illegal for a kratom retailer to sell any kratom product to an individual under 21 years old, and every kratom product must have a clear label that describes how to use it properly.
“We wanted to make sure that no one’s 21 or under was going to be able to purchase it. It was going to have to be put behind the counter,” Sen. Russell Ott said. “And then we wanted to make it meaningful legislation and say that, you know, if someone breaks the rules, there’s going to be a price to pay.”
Any retailer in violation of this law will face a $1,000 fine for the first offense and $2,000 for a second or subsequent offense.
“We’re going to give time for businesses to make sure that they learn about it and make sure that they start following the rules before it goes into effect, but in a couple of months, I think that it will be a safer place in South Carolina, particularly for our kids,” Ott said.
He also said legislators are working with the Retail Association and state agencies to ensure businesses are aware of the new law.
The law will go into effect 60 days from when the governor signed the bill.
According to Dr. David Schaffer, who is the director of Medical Toxicology for Prisma Health in the Upstate, the supplement became popular about 15 years ago as a way to treat opioid addiction.
Now, it is widely used for its psychoactive properties.
Schaffer said the issue is that when you purchase it, you don’t know what you’re getting.
“They may list a dose on there, a number of milligrams suggested use, and what we know from studies on supplements going back decades is that they may contain 0% of what they say, they may contain 3000% of what they say, and unfortunately, they may be contaminated with other substances,” Schaffer said.
He also said there could be a day when kratom is used therapeutically and as a prescribed pharmaceutical, but added that clinical trials are ongoing. The supplement is not completely safe yet.
